Apparatus for steaming fabrics



(No Model.) 4'She etS- -Sheet 1.

C. J. GADD. APPARATUS FOR STEAMING FABRICS.

Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

g wflw Attorney.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. J. GADD. APPARATUS FOR S'IBAMING FABRICS.-

No. 578,008. PatentedMar. 2, 1897.

a t a f v 3. 2 a .m AG A f I .m K 4 Mr Inventor. @Zw eaaag Attorney.

Witnesses.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Attqrny.

(No Model.)

0. J GADD. I APPARATUS FOR STBAMING FABRICS.

Patented Mar 2, 1897.

W itnesses.

4 Sheets+Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

, C. J. GA'DD. APPARATUS FOR STBAMING FABRICS.

Patented Mar. 2, 189,7.

Witnesses. "Ff-F? 0P%. 6%;

Attorney.

m: nonms PETERS co, moroumou wAsuyusmn, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. GADD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE H. W. BUTTERWORTH & SONS COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR STEAMING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,008, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed November 25, 1896'. Serial No. 613 ,364., (N model.)

To all whom it may concern: thereabout, to act upon another rod placed in Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. GADD, of position upon the guide by the conveyers. the cityand county of Philadelphia and State My invention also com prehends numerous of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvedetails of construction in a machine of this ment in Machines for Steaming, Aging, or character, all of which will be fullydescribed Drying Textile Fabrics, of which the followhereinafter, andmore particularly shown in ing is a specification. the accompanying drawings, in which My invention has reference to machines for Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a masteaming, aging, 850., textile and other fabchine for steaming, aging, or dryingtextile or 10 rics; and it consists of certain improvements other fabrics embodying my invention. Fig. which are fully set forth in the following speci- 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of same fication and shown in the accompanyingdrawon line a: w. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a ings, which form a part thereof. portion of Fig. 1', showing the power mechan- Myinvention comprehends certain features ism. Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified I 5 of construction in machines of this class more type of power mechanism. Fig. 5 is a secespecially designed for conveying the suptional plan view of another modification of porting-rods through the machine and mapower mechanism embodying my improvenipulating them in such manner that they ments. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of may support and guide the fabric or mate same. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation, and

20 rial being treated Within the drying-room or Fig. 8 is a front elevation, of the controlling 7o closed chamber. devices for the rods and fabric at the dis- This invention is especially adapted for charge end of the longitudinal guides on an treating all flexible materials when in long enlarged scale. strips either for drying, steaming, or other A is a closed chamber of any suitable con- 25 treatment. Thus the apparatus maybe used struction and may be provided with a perfor treating woven or textile fabrics, includforated or slatted floor A and steaming and ing dyed or printed goods, oil-cloths, and also heating pipes A close to the bottom. Arwall-paper. ranged within the chamber and traveling over In carrying out my invention I arrange a guide sprocket-wheels b 1) near each side is 0 pair of endless or other suitable conveyers an endless conveyer-chain B. The tension within a chamber and provide them with of the chains is secured by weights D, applied hooks or devices for supporting and carryto the lower guide-wheels b. By employing ing the rods, and in combination therewith guide-wheels 1) near the upper part of the I provide receiving-guides, upon which the chamber and at a lower elevation than the 3 5 rods are automatically deposited by the conupper wheels 5 the chains or conveyors are veyers, and automatic reciprocating pushers caused to move vertically for a short distance moved forward under the action of power deand then horizontally and below the grooved vices to force the rods over the guides and or longitudinal guides E, which are arranged into a pairof grooved or other suitable guides longitudinally between the said vertical parts 0 arranged longitudinally of the chamber or of the conveyer-chains. Suitable guides B 0 room, near its upper part. My preferred form are arranged to sustain the weight of the horiof power devices comprehends suitable rack zontal parts of the con veyers to prevent sagand gears adapted to impart a rapid forward ging and swinging. The conveyer-chains are motion to the pushers andaslowreturnmoveprovided at intervals in their length with 45 ment, the object of which is to quickly place hooks O, loosely pivoted, so as to automatic 5 the rod acted upon into proper operative poally adjust themselves.

sition with respect to the longitudinal or Fareaseriesof rods havingcollars or heads grooved guides'a-nd cloth, and so time the fat each end of somewhat larger diameter pusher that it is brought into proper initial and adapted to run in or upon the guides E, 50 position for a second action just in time, or as clearly shown. At the forward end of the loo guides E there is arranged a horizontal guid eway 6, which projects somewhat inward on one side of the grooved guides E, as shown in Fig. 5. This guide e receives the rod F and leaves the collars or heads thereof extended over and in line with the grooves of the guide E. Small pawls m extend downward from an extension on the grooved guide E, so as to form a slight obstruction to the accidental rolling of a rod from the extreme end of the guide e, the position of the said rod when deposited by the hooks C being clearly shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 to 6. Normally the grooved guides E are filled with a series of parallel rods F, and in the operation of the machine a rod is forced into one end of the said guides E simultaneously with the removal or discharge of a rod at the opposite end, so that there are always the same. number of rods acting upon the fabric W, which is fed through the chamber and sustained in loops upon the said rods, as clearly shown in Fig. l. The fabric enters the chamberA between feeding-rollers I I, and after being treated emerges by being drawn out of the chamber between the plates I I.

Whentherod is brought to a position upon the guide 6 by the endless conveyers, it is left there,while the hooks continue to travel, and While this operation is taking place the fabric W' is descending to form a new loop. \Vhen theloop is. formed, the pushers 7c are moved forward so that they strike the heads or collars of the rod and move it under the pawl and forward again st the rods within the guides E. The heads or collars of the various rods properly space them and prevent the cloth from rubbing upon itself. Then the pushers move forward, they act upon. both ends of the rod alike and exert a sufficient force tomove the entire series of rods through or over the guides. The rod so moved by the pushers is forced under the pivoted frictionfingers g, which thereby hold the cloth from slipping, over the said rod and also insure its further feeding to form a new loop. These friction-fingers are veryclearly shown in Fig. 8, in which we have the fingers proper, g, adjustably secured to the free end of a bellcrank arm or lever G, provided with an adjusting-screw i, to adjust it so as to limit the downward movement of the fingers g. A weight G is adjustably clamped to the arm G, so as to exert any desired tension upon the fabric. There are a number of these fingers employed, as shown in Fig. 2, and they are all connected to a cross-beam U, which also carries the guides E.

The pushers 7c are secured to reciprocating frames K, provided with internal racks K K facing each other, and are adjustable at k to compensate for wear. A transverse shaft L has secured to it segmental gears M and N, the former adapted to engage with the rack K and the latter with the rack K It will be seen that when this shaftrotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3, the action ciprocates with great steadiness.

of the gear M with the rack K causes the pusher k to be moved with considerable rapidity forward to transfer the rod from the dot ted position to the solid position under the fingers G, and a further movement brings the gear N into operation with the rack K and returns the pusher at a slower speed. lVhen fully returned, it remains at rest fora period until the gear M again comes into contact with the rack K, when the operation is repeated. At the period of rest, however, a new rod is deposited upon the guides e by the conveyer. The frame K of the pusher is guided in a horizontal guide P, so that it re- The guide sprocket-wheels b are loosely supported upon the shafts L as they rotate under the action of the conveyors B in the opposite direction to the gears. As shown in Fig. 2, there are two of the shafts L, since it would be impracticable to run the shaft all. the way across on account of the descending fabric. These shafts, however, are connected by suitable gearing L and positively driven by a shaft L (See Fig. 2.) Gears L transmit power from the shafts L to the driving sprocketwheels I) at the top of the chamber.

Vtlhenever a new rod is pushed into position at the forward end of the guides E, a rod is liberated at the rear or discharge end and moves upon the inclined guides E until it comes to rest in a position to be automatically taken up by the hooks C, Fig. 1. Levers II, counterweighted at h, may be employed to offer a, resistance to the accidental displacement of the rods near the discharge end, so as to arrest any tendency to roll under the impact given at the forward end. The levers II are so shaped at the bottom as to rest gently upon the fabric on the rod to stop its slipping down and are provided with a lateral cam projection II, Figs. '7 and S, which acts upon the rod next to the rear and between the head and the fabric, so that when the rods are all moved forward this last-mentioned rod, acting upon the part ll, raises the lever H so that it shall not drag over the cloth or material being treated, but upon the passage of the rod under the cam part H it drops and once more allows the lever II to rest upon the fabric and last-mentioned rod. In this. way only one rod at a time is liberated and injury to the fabric prevented. As the rods are pushed toward the rear they are moved one at a. time from under the pivoted lever mechanism II and then by gravity roll upon the inclined guides E into position to be taken away by the hooks of the conveyor and ultimately returned below the fabric and brought up to theforward or feeding end previously described.

In place of using a pair of endless conveyers, as shown, it is evident that the conveyors may be formed in any suitable manner, so long as they have a capacity for conveying the rods through the chamber or from the discharge end to the feeding end of the horizon- ICO tal or grooved guides. Itis also evident that with regard to the guides E the upper flange may be omitted, so that, strictly speaking, they would not be grooved guides. In fact, any form of guides suitable to the purpose may be used.

It will be observed from an examination of Fig. 3 that the upper surface of the guide 6 is on a level with the bottom of the rods f, so that when moved forward their heads or collars are properly brought into position in the guides E.

In place of the particular means for pushing the rods into position above described I may employ a modification thereof, as indicated in Fig. i, in which a crank-wheel O is provided with a crank-pin 0, working in a transverse or vertical slot on a reciprocating bar or frame to which the pusher 7c is secured. It will be seen that upon rotating the crank O the pusher will be moved forward and backward at intervals, though in this case the movements will be uniform. By properly shaping the transverse groove for the crank-pin, however, the reciprocations may be made irregular, corresponding to that of Fig. 3.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the pusher 7c is secured to a frame S, having a rack P guided in a horizontal guide P and moved backward under the action of a weight T, attached to a chain 8, guided by a pulley S and connecting with the pusherframe S. The forward movement of the pusher is produced by a segmental gear E, meshing with the rack P and in all material respects corresponds to the gear and rack K of Fig. 3. In this manner the forward motion is positively performed with considerable rapidity by a rack and gear, while the return motion is performed by the action of gravity. At the end of the return motion the parts may remain at rest for a period of time during which a new rod is put into position upon the guide 6.

WVhile I prefer to make the gears M and N of different diameters and so set as to produce no appreciable period of rest at one end of the reciprocation of the frame K and a considerable period of rest at the other end, the motions may be made without the period of rest and also without the difference in speed, if so desired, by simply properly proportioning the gears.

In some cases, as in drying wall-paper or oil-cloths, the apparatus would be set up in a large room, which need not be tightly inclosed, as in the case of the chamber A. Hence I do not confine myself to the use of any inclosing chamber.

While I prefer the construction shown, I do not limit myself to the details thereof, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from the principle of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for steaming, aging, or dryin g textile or other fabric, the combination of two longitudinal guides arranged at a distance apart and having their forward ends provided with horizontal guides unobstructed from above, transverse rods over which the fabric is looped supported by the said guides, suitable conveying devices adapted to deposit rods at intervals upon the horizontal guides, reciprocating pushers for simultaneously pushing both ends of the rod over the horizontal guides, pusher-frames guided in suitable guides, rotary shafts, and power-transmitting connections between the said shafts and the reciprocating pusher-frames for operating the pushers.

2. In a machine for steaming, aging,'or dryin g textile or other fabric, the combination of two longitudinal guides arranged at a distance apart and having their forward ends provided with horizontal guides unobstructed from above, transverse rods over which the fabric is looped supported by the said guides, suitable conveying devices adapted to deposit rods at intervals upon the horizontal guides, reciprocating pushers for simultaneously pushing both ends of the rod over the horizontal guides, pusherframes guided in suitable guides, rotary shafts, and power-transmitting connectionsbetween the said shafts and the reciprocating pusher-frames for operating the pushers with a quick forward motion and a slow return motion.

3. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination of two longitudinal guides arranged at a distance apart and having their forward ends provided with horizontal guides unobstructed from above, transverse rods over which the fabric is looped supported by the said guides, suitable conveying devices adapted to deposit rods at intervals upon thehorizontal guides, reciprocating pushers for simultaneously pushing both ends of the rod over the horizontal guides, pusher-frames provided with two racks and guided in suitable guides,rotary shafts, and segmental gears of different diameters respectively meshing with the two racks of each pusher-frame for moving the said frames forward with a greater speed than that imparted on the backward movement.

4. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination of two longitudinal guides arranged at a distance apart and having their forward ends provided with horizontal guides unobstructed from above, transverse rods over which the fabric'is looped supported by the said guides, suitable conveying devices adapted to deposit rods at intervals upon the horizontal guides, reciprocating pushers for simultaneously pushing both ends of the rod over the horizontal guides, pusher-frames provided with two racks guided in suitable guides, rotary shafts, and segmental gears of different diameters respectively meshing with the two racks of each pusher-frame for moving the said frames forward with a greater speed than that imparted on the backward movement and so formed in the are of the circle which they include as to produce a period of rest of the pusher-frame upon its extreme backward movement.

5. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination of two longitudinal guides arranged at a distance apart and having their forward ends provided with horizontal guides unobstructed from above, transverse rods over which the fabric is looped supported by the said guides, suitable conveying devices adapted to deposit rods at intervals upon the horizontal guides, reciprocating pushers for simultaneously pushing both ends of the rod over the horizontal guides, pusher-frames. guided in suitable guides, rotary shafts, power-transmitting connections between the said shafts and the reciprocating pusher-frames for operating the pushers, a series of pivoted friction-creating fingers for holding the fabric upon the rods when pushed forward, by the pushers, and weights for adjusting the tension of said, friction-creating fingers upon the fabric.

6. In a machine for steaming,aging, or drying textile or other fabric, thecombination of two longitudinal guides arranged at a distance apart and having their forward ends provided with horizontal guides unobstructed from above, transverse rods over which the fabric is looped supported by the said guides, suitable conveying devices adapted to deposit rods at intervals upon the horizontal guides, reciprocating pushers for simultaneouslypushing both ends of the rod over the horizontal guides, pusher-frames guided in suitable guides, rotary shafts, power-transmitting connections between the said shafts and the reciprocating pusher-frame for operatin g the pushers, a series of pivoted frictioncreating fingers for holding the fabric upon the rods when pushed forward by the pushers, weights for adjusting the tension of said friction-creating fingers upon the fabric, and means for limiting the downward movement of the friction-creating fingers.

7. In a machine for steaming, aging, or d rying textile or other fabric, the combination of two longitudinal guides arranged at a distance apart and having their forward ends provided with horizontal guides unobstructed from above, transverse rods over which the fabric is looped supported by the said guides, suitable conveying devices adapted to deposit rods at intervals upon the horizontal guides, reciprocating pushers for simultaneously pushing both ends of the rod over the horizontal guides, pusher-frames guided in suitable guides, rotary shafts, power-transmitting connections between the said shafts and the reciprocating pusher-frames for operating the pushers, a series of pivoted frictioncreating fingers for holding the fabric upon ing textile or other fabric, the combination of two longitudinal guides arranged at a distance apart and having their forward ends provided with horizontal guides unobstructed from above, transverse rods over which the fabric is looped attached to the said guides, suitable conveying devices adapted to deposit rods at intervals upon the horizontal guides, reciprocating pushers for simultaneously pushing both ends of the rod over the horizontal guides, pusher-frames guided in suitable guides, rotary shafts, power-transmittin g connections between the said shafts and. the reciprocating pusher-fram es for operating the pushers, inclined discharging-guides at the rear of the longitudinal guides and from whichv the conveyers are adapted to remove the liberated rods, and friction-creating devices acting upon the transverse rods near the discharging end of the guides to offer a resistance to their premature liberation from the longitudinal guides.

9. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination of two longitudinal guides arranged at a distance apart and having their forward ends provided with horizontal guides unobstructed from above, transverse rods over which the fabric is looped supported by the said guides, suitable conveying devices adapted to deposit rods at intervals upon. the-horizontal guides, reciprocating pushers for simultaneously pushing both ends of the rod over the horizontal guides, pusher-frames guided in suitable guides,rotary shafts,powertransmitting connections between the said shafts and the reciprocating pusher-frames for operating the pushers, inclined discharging-guides at the rear of the longitudinal guides and from which the conveyers are adapted to remove the liberated rods, friction-creating device's acting upon the transverse rods near the dis charging end of the longitudinal guides to offer a resistance to their premature liberation from the horizontal guides, and means to adjust the tension of said friction-creating devices.

10. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination of the longitudinal guides E having the horizontal guide extensions 6, the reciprocating frames K having pushers 71) and provided with racks K and K segmental gears M and N respectively adapted to said racks Kand K and power devices for rotating the said segmental gears.

11. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination IIO power devices for rotating the said segmental gears, and pawls m extending downward and in the path of the transverse rods being operated upon by the pushers k.

12. In a machine for steaming, aging, or

drying textile or other fabric, the combination.

of the longitudinal guides E having the horizontal extensions 6, reciprocating pushers it carried by frames each having a rack, a rotating segmental gear adapted to mesh with each of said racks to produce a forward motion of the pushers and their frames, and means to return the pushers and their frames when liberated by the gears.

13. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination of longitudinal guides for the transverse supporting-rods, reciprocating pushers for moving the rods over the guides, and rotating power devices for intermittently acting upon the pushers for causing their reciprocation.

14. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the longitudinal guides in combination with transverse rods for supporting the fabric, means for feeding the rods over the guides, and friction-creating devices for holding the rod and fabric consisting of fingers 9 carried in pivoted arms G and provided with adjusting devices 11 for adjusting the downward movement of the arm G.

15. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the longitudt nal guides in combination with transverse rods for supporting the fabric, means for feedin g the rods over the guides, friction-creating devices consistingof fingers 9 carried in pivoted arms G and provided with adjusting devices 11 for adjusting the downward movement of the arm G, and adjustable weights G for creating the necessary downward pressure of the fingers upon the fabric and rods to hold them in position when pushed forward.

16. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination of horizontal guides, transverse rods attached to said guides for supporting the fabric, means to move the rods over the guides, and frictioncreating devices for holding the fabric upon the rods consisting of pivoted arms G having a weight G and the friction-creating finger g vertically adjustable in the arm G and means for adjusting the downward movement of the arm G.

17. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination of longitudinal guides, a series of transverse rods for supporting the fabric in loops sustained by said guides, power devices for moving said rods intermittently over the said guides, movable friction-creating devices acting upon the rearmost rod in the guides to hold the cloth upon the rod and hold the rod against accidental liberation, and cam devices controlled by the next adjacent rod to raise the friction-creating devices to liberate the fabric and rearmost rod so that it may be discharged.

18. In a machine for steaming, aging, or

drying textile or other fabric, the combination of longitudinal guides, a series of transverse rods for supporting the fabric in loops sustained by said guides, power devices for moving said rods intermittently over the said guides, friction-creatin g devices consisting of a pivoted lever having a pressure-foot acting upon the rearmost rod in the guides to hold the cloth upon the rod and hold the rod against accidental liberation, and cam devices carried by the pivoted lever and displaced laterally so as to be acted upon and be controlled by the part of the next adjacent rod not covered by the fabric to raise the friction-creating devices to liberate the fabric and rearmost rod so that it may be discharged.

19. In a machine for steaming, aging, or drying textile or other fabric, the combination of longitudinal guides, a series of transverse rods for supporting the fabric in loops sustained by said guides, power devices for moving said rods intermittently over the said guides, movable friction-creating devices acting upon the rearmost rod in the guides to and rearmost rod so that it may be discharged,

oblique discharge guides at the discharge end of the longitudinal guides to receive the liberated rods, and conveyer devices for removing the liberated rods and returning them to the opposite end of the longitudinal guides.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES J. GADD. I/Vitnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, R. M. KELLY. 

